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SAN JOSE (KCBS) – Preservationists in San Jose say the city isn’t doing enough to protect historic structures. The criticism follows a fire last week that heavily damaged a house that belonged to one of the city’s pioneer families.

Kelley House, located inside Kelley Park, which was built in the early 1900s has been vacant for years, but Monica Richards, a proponent of San Jose’s older homes, said that doesn’t mean the city doesn’t need to dedicate itself to its upkeep.

“I’d often seen that house, when we’d go to Kelley Park to go over to Happy Hollow, and I always thought it was just a beautiful, beautiful example of the architecture of that time,” said Richards. “So for it to be totally gone is just really heartbreaking.”

San Jose Communications Director Dave Vossbrink said that, while the city has a very good record of historic preservation, only so much can be done.

KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports:

Preservationists Accuse San Jose Of Neglecting Historical Homes

“In difficult times, when we’re really fighting for every dollar to make sure that we can have public safety protected, libraries open, make sure the parks are well maintained, then we have to make those difficult choices about what is really most important in our community at this time,” said Vossbrink.

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